Abused ETX dog finds home in final hours at shelter

LONGVIEW, TX (KLTV) -
An abused dog found with a collar embedded into its neck is headed to a new home.

We introduced you to Nicholas earlier this month. He was found in Gregg County in January and has since touched the hearts of people all over East Texas.

Scott Holloway is the first heart Nicholas touched. Animal control found Nicholas wandering the streets and brought him to the Humane Society of Northeast Texas.

"He had a rope, or what was left of a big thick rope, wrapped around his neck. It wasn't embedded then, but you could tell where a collar or whatever had been embedded," said Holloway.

All that's left of the injury is a small scar because the second heart Nicholas touched belonged to a Tyler veterinarian.

"He did a surgery and he did laser treatment. Now you can see the neck is beautiful," said Holloway.

Nicholas continued his recovery in a foster home and recently returned to the shelter to find a permanent owner. "The thing is, because we are so full, Nicholas has run out of time," said Holloway. A few minutes later, Nicole Nelms walked into the shelter to save Nicholas.

"My mom told me to go on her Facebook page and there was a dog and he would be euthanized tomorrow if he wasn't picked," Nelms said.

Nelms and Nicholas got acquainted and she decided to make the adoption official. "I hope his story gets out. I hope if people are in a situation where they can help with the animal shelter they do it, because they are sweet. It's worth it definitely," said Nelms.

Nicholas is a success story, but as he left four new puppies arrived. Those puppies were found abandoned in a box. Shelter volunteers say the dogs will be kept for three days before being put up for adoption.